Costa Rica and Panama top Happiest People according to Gallup Poll

News report: Cut and paste   http://news.co.cr/watch-the-throne-will … ain/33069/

To many American and Canadian expats living in Costa Rica, the last few years have taken a heavy toll on their wallets and bank accounts. The Costa Rica Star has been closely following this worrisome, inflationary financial trend, which seems to deeply impact expats, frequent visitors, immigrant workers, and perpetual tourists. This situation is even more palpable in Guanacaste, which is home to beach communities known to be among the most expensive in Latin America.

It is no secret that expats have been looking for “the next Costa Rica” for quite some time. The nearest candidate at this point is Panama, a nation with very interesting real estate options, reportedly lower cost of living and numerous advantages specifically geared to benefit expats and foreign retirees.

This was published last month in amcostarica

Exaggerated sales pitches mean disappointment

By the Retire Now in Cost Rica news staff

This may sound elitist, but Costa Rica is not for the financially marginal any more.

Time was when a U.S. or Canadian expat could live decently on $600 month. That used to be the threshold for persons seeking permanent residency as pensionado. That fee was fixed about the time a taxi ride cost less than 50 U.S. cents per kilometer.

The 2009 immigration law reflected the reality of higher prices by establishing  a threshold for pensionado income of at least $1,000 a month. Those without a verifiable pension might seek to become rentistas if they could show $2,500 a month from outside income.

Even International living, a company that markets seminars for foreigners here is reflecting that new reality. In promoting the next seminar in glowing terms, the company admits in an email that living here in a reasonable way will cost $2,000 to $3,000 a month.[/large][/b]

Those who came here as expats to stretch retirement income are the first to complain about rising prices. They find themselves living an involuntary frugal existence. That might mean a mostly vegetarian diet while living in a $400-a-month Costa Rican-style home without certain benefits like hot water. Public transportation is the norm.

Although his type of lifestyle might be healthy, it is the involuntary nature that grates on many who came here with misconceptions.

As one expat business owner said: Costa Rica is not for the poor any more. He seeks tenants for his apartments who can pay the $1,200 monthly rental.

Costa Ricans are feeling the pinch, too, despite a low inflation index. Part of the problem is a socialistic governmental scheme that has racked up massive debt.

Some expats try to save money by living outside the rules. They shun  immigration requirements and become illegal or what are known as perpetual tourists. They might live far from the metro area and try to minimize outside contacts to avoid being spotted by immigration police. This seems to be a kind of self-imposed detention.

The belief among expats here is that many would-be retirees return to their home country or go elsewhere after six months in Costa Rica.  The problem appears to be unrealistic expectations.

International Living stokes these expectations to find customers for its overseas seminars. The company says in one promotional email:

"All legal residents join the public Caja system and pay out a small fee each month based on their income. That covers all of their treatments and prescription costs — even surgeries."

What the company fails to mention is that the small fee might be as much as $400 a month and that there may be a five-year wait for surgery. The Caja's Hospital México in San José is now involved in a scandal because the chief cardiologist there went public to say that more than 100 patients awaiting catheter surgery have died while on a lengthy waiting list.

A week ago  the public Hospital San Juan de Dios began shifting bed-ridden patients to a local clinic because officials forgot to plan that a remodeling of the orthopedic wing would temporarily eliminate 40 beds.

Another expat complains that his elderly Costa Rican mother-in-law broke her hip, and that she languished in a hospital for two weeks waiting surgery.

There are many great reasons to live in Costa Rica, but creating unrealistic expectations for financial gain has a negative impact

— June 8. 2015
   [/b]

Hello Cupacoffee,

The honesty in your post blows me away, it's totally shocking to see an expat tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth about life here in Costa Rica.  If you keep posting information like, the poster "TerryN" will be asking you to consider leaving the country... LOL   Your post made my day, I just love honest people, keep up the good work of telling the truth.

Don't credit me for this info, as I was reposting it to show samramon, that you shouldn't rely on IL to actually 'tell it like it is'....just like your silly comments.

And I always tell the truth, based on living here from many years and not third hand information, by watching videos.

I don't get why you are constantly harassing TerrynViv, as you only make yourself look stupid, vindictive or maybe you are just jealous...

Your friend TerryN is on a mission to ban all negative information about Costa Rica, even if some of that information is in an actual interview by an expat.  This obsession to hide the negative situations we experience here "in a blog like this" is criminal.  What possible benefit is there to glorifying and sugar coating Costa Rica "to people who are considering making a major life change and moving here"?  I get private messages from people who thank me for my honesty, and we continually discuss life here through regular email.  Sure Costa Rica is a wonderful country in its entirety, but tricking people into moving down here by hiding "facts of life" is something I'll never get involved in.

Possibly since they have not lived here for very long, according to the posts, they haven't had any negative experiences...?
I have had no communication with TerrynViv regarding anything or anyone on this forum....but why would I doubt what is in their posts?  Whereas, I doubt everything you write... ...even if it sounds  plausible, possible because of the all BS you post, especially when you have had no first hand experience of the issue under discussion.

Edward1958 wrote:

News report: Cut and paste   http://news.co.cr/watch-the-throne-will … ain/33069/

To many American and Canadian expats living in Costa Rica, the last few years have taken a heavy toll on their wallets and bank accounts. The Costa Rica Star has been closely following this worrisome, inflationary financial trend, which seems to deeply impact expats, frequent visitors, immigrant workers, and perpetual tourists. This situation is even more palpable in Guanacaste, which is home to beach communities known to be among the most expensive in Latin America.

It is no secret that expats have been looking for “the next Costa Rica” for quite some time. The nearest candidate at this point is Panama, a nation with very interesting real estate options, reportedly lower cost of living and numerous advantages specifically geared to benefit expats and foreign retirees.

Yes this is the other side of the coin. Inflation has hit  Costa Rica very hard. It has also hit the USA very hard and I'm guessing, most other countries. It impacts most horribly on the Ticos who really cannot afford it with their low wages.

However an expat and his wife who are willing to do his research can still retire in Costa Rica and live well for under $1500/month. I know people who were living on $1k/month for a long time before they sold their home back in the states and now have more money to live on. Living on 1k requires that one have a home already bought and paid for though.

I asked in another thread, "Where can you live well (as well as in Costa Rica) on $1000-1500/month in the USofA?
(I didn't get any answers.)

cupacoffee wrote:

Don't credit me for this info, as I was reposting it to show samramon, that you shouldn't rely on IL to actually 'tell it like it is'....just like your silly comments.

And I always tell the truth, based on living here from many years and not third hand information, by watching videos.

I don't get why you are constantly harassing TerrynViv, as you only make yourself look stupid, vindictive or maybe you are just jealous...

The article I posted had nothing to do with IL or International Living, as far as I know.
I am familiar with IL and I agree with you, they have agendas, their views are slanted towards their "flavor of the month" investments of real estate, mango groves, teak or whatever.

I have lived in Costa Rica for a year, I have visited it for months at a time and am retiring there this year.
I've done my due diligence (still doing it on some stuff like how to move, what to bring, who to build our home etc).

If you look at my history of posts I think it will show I am at least somewhat balanced. Whereas "some people" make EVERY post negative, I do not make EVERY post positive. I try to share information that is useful, answer questions when I can, and I ALWAYS tell newbies "Don't move there until you live there", "It's not for everyone" and "Learn Spanish if you plan to move there." And "NEVER buy a property without doing all of the above and never on a first trip to Costa Rica!" (Again: Live there awhile, first!)

Cupacoffee, I have no problem with your posting the other side of the coin in this thread because what you posted is a legitimate issue that everyone moving to  Costa Rica should be aware of. I also don't see you posting negative stuff at every opportunity.

However the general landscape of this forum has become so negative I'm probably going to stop posting here. It's just too negative. Certain people do NOTHING BUT post negative cr*p and it's just tiresome.

Reminds me of another forum I frequent (completely different subject matter) where the trolls now outnumber the legit posters who are interested and enthused about the subject matter - so it just isn't fun any more.

This forum is pretty much the same now... I'm all for important information of a negative nature sometimes but jheez when some people make EVERY post negative, that's just a deal breaker for me. I get sick and tired of reading nothing but negative posts. WIsh there was an "I hate Costa Rica" forum for the haters to go to!

I'm ready to 'throw in the line' on this forum too.

BTW, I am on a less than $15000 budget and rent here...and it is getting much tougher to live here. No frills at at all.

cupacoffee wrote:

Possibly since they have not lived here for very long, according to the posts, they haven't had any negative experiences...?
I have had no communication with TerrynViv regarding anything or anyone on this forum....but why would I doubt what is in their posts?  Whereas, I doubt everything you write... ...even if it sounds  plausible, possible because of the all BS you post, especially when you have had no first hand experience of the issue under discussion.

You are right cupacoffee, we have been here permanent slightly less than a year and had around four months of renting in the prior few years.  I will only post personal experience because that is the only way I can guarantee the validity of my posts.  Second hand can easily be third, fourth, or fifth and that reduces the credibility of the post.  I am positive that there will be something coming down the pipes that will not be in my best interest and I will post that when it happens.  In the meantime I find that attitude has a lot to do with whether a person is happy or not.  In our community there are two guys that have problems here and their attitudes reflect that.  The other 90% see the glass as half full and their happiness and attitude in their day to day life reflect that.  Hence the majority of us avoid these two people.  We have friends in the house all the time, Ticos and Ticas included and you never see any traffic at the homes of those two.  My wife will be going to zoomba class this afternoon after being invited by a Tica friend, she will be the only non-Tica there. Me, I am off to a bread making class this morning and it will be a mixture of a few of us from our community and some of the locals.  If this isn't positive I don't know what is.

I understand and concur with cupacoffee's and sanramon's thoughts and feelings regarding the direction of this forum.

cupacoffee wrote:

I'm ready to 'throw in the line' on this forum too.

BTW, I am on a less than $15000 budget and rent here...and it is getting much tougher to live here. No frills at at all.

15k yr? That's $1250 / mo.
When renting that's cutting it too close I guess.

A big part of living on the cheap depends on lifestyle.
A.C.? Imported food?
But the people I know who lived on 1000 / mo. were not renting.